Tuesday, January 22, 2008

The Great Toddler Invasion

We had the best time on our road trip. The babies, now known as The Tods, were so good. I noticed that Jackson was particularly good and I think it's because he never had one moment of boredom the entire weekend. He and Ella played so hard. He was thrilled to have a friend at his Bibby's house. By the way, Jackson learned to say "my" and "mine" this weekend. I wonder why? He also learned "thank you" and a few other words, thanks to Ella's example. Homegirl talks in sentences!

Here's what we did:Friday night - We had dinner at La Hacienda. Yum.Saturday - We went to Memorial City Mall because Sunni had told us about their amazing play area and the two-story carousel. That night Janelle and I met some friends for a movie. Sunday - We went to the Houston Zoo and saw lots of animals. Incidentally, we may have had the world's best pizza at the zoo. We made a stop at Dessert Gallery and got some cake to go. After The Tods went to bed, Janelle and I went to Target to buy a dual-screen DVD player for the car and some candy for the ride home. Let's just say that the ride home was a bit smoother than the ride there. We stayed up very late packing our suitcases. We could have gone on an international trip with all the clothes we brought. Monday - We said goodbye to a Very Sad Bibby and a Very Sad Pappaw and headed over to Michelle's house. We got to meet Baby Jack and play with Keegan. Michelle's husband got us McDonald's for lunch. How fitting! We loaded up at naptime and started the four-hour journey home. The babies only slept one hour. Thank the Lord for the DVD player. We rolled into town at 5:30 and had to say our goodbyes. Jackson cried so hard when Ella drove away and said through tears, "Bye bye!" It was so precious and so sad! Tuesday - My hubby gets home from his ski trip tonight. I can't wait to see him!

Here's the evidence of our mad photojournalism skills.

Ready to go!

We had to make a stop on the way to Houston. Can you guess where?

Amen.

When Jackson had had enough of the car ride, he took off his shoes and socks and picked fuzz out from between his toes.

At The Houston Zoo

Janelle and her Tod.

Me and my Tod.

The Goat Whisperer.

Ella enjoyed brushing the goats' hair.

That is one intriguing animal.

The Tods looking under the fence to get the best view.

Our favorite picture of The Tods.

Amanda, Jackson, and Bibby looking at something.

Mom and Tod looking at another Mom and Tod.

Big mom, big tod.

The Tods racing up the jungle gym stairs at the zoo.

Jackson was much happier going down the slide than brushing the goats.

Jackson jumping on the bridge, catching air under his feet. Mommy holding her breath.

In the car

Guess who wanted to ride in the back every time we got in the car?

Guess who's faking it in this picture?

Guess who's not faking it here?

Ella's hat hair.

A cookie liquefied in Ella's mouth.

At the house

One Tod's favorite thing is to put water on his hair and the other Tod's most hated thing is to have water on her hair. This was an interesting time.

80 comments:

AHHH!! It was SO FUN! Ella also shed some tears upon us driving away. It was a sad morning for her waking up without Jackson or Pablo. Oh my goodness. I just can't thank you and your parents enough. I love y'all!

WOW!! That is an awesome post...not only the length, but the pictures. You have so much more patience than me to get all those pictures uploaded...I must be doing something wrong. Seems like you had fun...looks like it!

This looks like so much fun! Now that I'm a, ahem, 40 something mom of children who have long ago said goodbye to being "tods," there is so much wisdom in just having a good friend to enjoy the journey with! I didn't really have anyone like that and I honestly believe the years would have been less stressful and lonely had I had me a "Janelle and Sunni!"

Don't get me wrong, I loved every ounce of babydom and toddlerhood that I had with my babies and I'm having just as much fun now that they are 12 and 6, but there is just something about having someone to go along with you who understands! The hubster can only "get" so much, you know? We need our girlfriends, our sisters!

I just have to appreciate the time it took with blogger to upload that many pics for us successfully. Wow. Better woman than me! I just can't imagine being at the zoo with "Bibby"..."OH! It's! Is that...!"

Amanda....I caught myself just smiling away at each picture and even letting a little laugh out with each one. These are truly priceless days!!! I love the picture of Jackson loving on your momma at the restaurant. Its just so sweet.

Thank you for sharing with us. I'm glad your trip was awesome and you are back home safely. And...I'm glad hubs is coming home too.

What a wonderful time. You can tell on all of your faces that it was such a good getaway. Even if you had to spend the extra moolaw for a DVD player. I know, from experience , it was well worth it.I also love the exercise routine with Bibby. My mom does Pilates and they get down on the floor with her and we just ache from laughter.Oh and one more thing "Big Tod little tod"...LOVE IT.

Oh my goodness! This looks like a fabulous weekend- what fun! So many great pictures and memories. Just one question... I noticed that when the tods were dancing they were missing their praise banners:-) (I loved hearing your Mom tell the story at one of her conferences of learning about her soon to be grandbaby!)

I smiled the whole way through this. My heart may explode from all the cuteness. And for a split second I thought your mama was wearing leg warmers in the stretching picture, and it near 'bout made my day.

Sounds like you had a great time in H-town. Memorial City has something to love for everyone in the family.

There is something about Ella that reminds me of my niece Megan when she was that age. Seeing these pictures gave me good memories of when Megan was little. In fact, Megan turned 16 today...oops, I better be a good Auntie and call her. Then assure her, the gift is on the way.

Thanks for sharing your fun time. I need to go see Michelle and the boys soon. I miss her and she is just across town.

Wow, you two did take some great pictures... I like the ones of your gang zonked out in the back seat, and of the water being splashed over Jackson's head. Your little one exudes (is that a word?) joy Amanda... It is always written all over his cute little face. Pure joy!!! So glad you had a great time, and have a great reunion with your hubby. Blessings...

*no road trip is complete without starbucks (shoot, no normal ride in the car is quite complete without it)*the goat whisperer....i am still on the floor rolling*your hair=amazing in the carousel picture*and the cookie picture did me in...

Aw, Manda...the pictures are adorable! And that new fine ride looked awfully cute with you and your friend perched up on the side! And yes, I did notice those awesome kicks you have on too! The pointy-toe...it speaks my love language!

Hi Amanda, I've just come across your blog and have been lurking for a few days. Wanted to say hello, introduce my presence here, and let you know you have officially made me homesick!! I was raised in that La Hacienda (and in Molina's) and Memorial City is my old stomping grounds. :) My mom still lives in Memorial and I don't get home as often as I should.

Oh my goodness! what cute pics...I saw the link on Janelle's page (hi, i'm amy, janelle's college friend, nice to meet you.) can i just say: if Ella's hat head pic doesn't look just like Heath Hartfield, I don't know what does! So funny! jackson and ella make a good pair. i hope their best buds forever!

That is ONE MASSIVE POST! I bet the server was groaning at your photojournalism skills! How else would you document such a fabulous weekend though? Great photos. I could comment on every one, but then my comment would match your post in length. I will say that the bath photo made me LOL really hard!

oh my goodness! these pics are so cute! how much longer must I wait for a grandchild?!!

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Very adorable. I will tell you that portable DVD players are God's gift to humanity. We have had ours for YEARS and thankfully the kids will watch the same thing. It has saved us much heartache on the road and in the skies!!

Love those pics and documentary! What a blast! We invested in a dual DVD at Christmas for the back seat on those long (and boring) drives from OKC to Dallas where the fam lives and it was the best. investment. EVAH!! We'll need it for the drive to Gulf Shores this spring!! What did our parent's ever do?? Laughed out loud at the goat whisperer caption! Amy in OK

something kept nagging at me after you mentioned the tea-drinking.....i remembered another mention of tea drinking (probably because i brought you some cherry preserves for the stale toast}Guess what it was jan 23 of 2007...and look at all the sister's now sharing tea with you!!!!!

I must say, your Mom looks awesome for being a "Bibby"!!! And she makes it look so great. When my time comes to be a grandma (a I have a while to go yet, I hope)I want to look fantastic too! Your pics make me want to take some kind of road trip with my kids!Christine in Illinois,(Mom to Ana (10) & Zoe (4))

as if you really needed one more affirmation that you posted the cutest pictures and your commentary devine, but still i have to say, my favorite was "Me with The Tods, I was the luckiest girl in the room."

Awesome pics! And girl, that picture of you on the carousel? Beautiful! And your hair looked spectacular! I'm sure your mom shed a few tears of her own. What a fun weekend! Ok, I think that's enough exclamation points. Thanks for sharing. Those kiddos are getting so big. (I so wanted to put an exclamation point there, but I restrained) What a beautiful couple they make. :)

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